PGCE Secondary Education with History
Become a history teacher and earn Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Marjon offers the highest quality teacher training which means our education graduates earn high wages and are quickly ready to progress to school leadership roles.
Entry requirements
A degree at 2:2 or above
GCSE English and Mathematics at grade 4 or grade C or above (or an equivalent qualification).
Experience of working with young people.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and trainees. All trainees are expected to share this commitment and demonstrate consistently high standards of personal and professional conduct.
Full entry requirements
See our full entry requirements and information on interviews for PGCE Secondary Education.
Any questions about postgraduate study at Marjon?
Contact Rachel Bailey-Lewis, our Student Recruitment Officer (Postgraduate).
Course Summary
Our specialist PGCE History is a direct route to a career of which you can be proud. History teachers empower young people to study the past and the legacies of the past in the present. Our PGCE History aims to produce dynamic confident, and creative teachers who are committed to making History relevant to students today. It prepares you to teach students to establish historical significance, use primary source evidence, identify continuity and change, analyse cause and consequence, take historical perspectives, and understand the ethical dimension of historical interpretations.
Our PGCE History includes a specific focus on the use of seminars, workshops and fieldwork and develops a range of teaching styles appropriate to the delivery of History within the National Curriculum and GCSE/A Level specifications. History teachers can enable pupils to see the linkages between past and present which is absolutely basic for a good understanding of the condition of being human.
During this varied PGCE History course, trainees acquire a broad and deep understanding of a teacher’s daily activities in challenging and diverse settings and how a History teach contributes to the whole school. Furthermore, our PGCE History trainees take up ‘enhancements’ linked to other curriculum subjects e.g religious education, primary phase or special education needs and diversity.
Why this course at Marjon?
Our trainees scored us 89% student satisfaction for postgraduate teacher training, this puts us in the top 25% quartile of all providers in England (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey, 2019)
93.9 % of our graduates are in further study, sustained employment or both five years after graduating, compared to a sector average for England of 88.2%. We are 1st in the South West (LEO, 2019)
Marjon Teacher Education Partnership has well-established links with schools across the South West, London and Service Children’s Education, our connections span over 300 schools and settings
Marjon education and teaching graduates are 3rd in all University providers for graduate earnings five years after leaving the university (Institute for Fiscal Studies, 2018)
Marjon Graduates are more socially mobile than other providers across the South West with more trainees gaining NQT employment in more diverse areas (DFE Supply, Retention and Mobility data, 2018)
We recognise the value of excellent role models in initial teacher training and promote the involvement of outstanding teachers and Specialist Leaders in Education in working with trainees
Modules for this course
1st Year
Professional practice in schools
Learning behaviours in context
Becoming a teacher: a reflective journey
Inclusion in the secondary classroom: maximising achievement
Understanding the learner: assessment and progress
This course is perfect if you’re curious about these questions...
How can I build strong relationships with pupils, colleagues and parents in school?
How can I promote a love of learning in my pupils and a passion for History?
How can I use Modern Culture, media and arts in making learning history relevant?
How can I get my pupils to draw on historical events to shape the choices they make today?
How do good teachers keep on top of their workload?
How do I best prepare for applying for teaching jobs?
“ The overall quality of training continues to be a very positive one judging by the comments made by TTs that I ‘met’ ... this goes for both university and school-based training sessions ... the humanities curriculum tutor has clearly provided thorough support to the trainee teachers throughout the training year and this was echoed strongly by the trainee teachers.”
What might you become?
History teachers are in growing demand now that the humanities subjects is one of five subjects that contributes to the English Baccalaureate. Previous trainees in humanities trainees have gained employment as teachers locally in Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall but also further afield e.g East Midlands, London, Yorkshire, Birmingham and in international schools.
Plymouth Marjon University is widely renowned for producing excellent teachers. We have superb links with over 300 partnership schools throughout the South West, London and overseas and our graduates teach in schools across the country. Our curriculum was praised by Ofsted for being "Designed to ensure you are well prepared for your wider professional responsibilities, including for pupils’ pastoral care. You will gain a secure understanding of how best to teach personal, social, health and citizenship education, in addition to your chosen subject specialism" (Ofsted, 2023).
We have a long established history of teacher education, we've got 180 years of experience in training teachers. A PGCE from Marjon represents a strong start to any teaching career. The Guardian University Guide 2024 ranked us Top 5 in the UK for education.
Working with:
Dept for Education
Marjon is recognised as a teacher training provider by the Dept for Education.
School-based learning may be available
How you’ll be taught and assessed?
How will you be taught?
Collaborative learning, critical reflection and a strong culture of support underpin the PGCE History. You will have a minimum of 120 days in school in 2 block placements and 12 weeks in University undertaking a range of activities, teaching includes lectures, seminars, workshops, conferences, tutorials, independent study or research and school based training.
How will you be assessed?
Assessments relate to your development of practice in school. All are coursework based, you will generate reflective journals, portfolios, essays and presentations.
Claire is Programme lead for the Secondary PGCEs and Schools Direct. Claire's specialist subject is English and before joining Marjon she worked in various secondary schools in Exeter as well for South West Teacher Training. Her research interests are reflective practice, teacher identity and retention.
Fees and funding
Fees UK students: £9,250
Fees for International students: £13,000
This fee covers your tuition and access to course-specific equipment and facilities, as well associated services including access to the library, study skills support, IT support, student support and wellbeing services and membership of the Student Union. There may be additional costs by course.
Funding available for this course
Our Student Funding Advisors offer confidential and impartial advice about your funding options.
Learn moreLecturers
Jonathan’s career as a history teacher has spanned over 25 years, working in secondary schools in Sussex, Suffolk and Cornwall. Previously, he has worked for Cornwall LEA as an Advanced Skills Teacher, supporting history departments, NQTs and recent entrants to the teaching profession across the county. He is a Teacher Fellow of the Historical Association.
Apply now for this course
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